Chief Executive Officer at The Pharo Foundation

Opportunity

• We are currently in search of a visionary and results-oriented Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") to lead our organisation into a new era of growth and impact. As a critical member of our executive leadership team, the CEO will be responsible for driving the implementation of the Foundation’s mission-driven strategy and scaling the operations of the social enterprises of Pharo’s for profit-arm, Pharo Ventures. This role will require a high-caliber individual with a solid track record of driving organisational excellence.
• Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the CEO will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Research and Evaluation Officer to shape influential decisions for the organisation. With direct oversight of our Mission Directors, Director of Global Partnerships and Communication, the Foundation’s executive team and senior leadership team of Pharo Ventures, the CEO will be instrumental in formulating and driving the organisation-wide strategy. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CEO will provide critical and timely intelligence on the organisation's performance, opportunities, and outlook to the Board of Directors and has budget ownership and accountability.

Duties and responsibilities

Strategy

• Develop and implement a long-term strategic plan that aligns with the Foundation's vision and objectives.
• Provide clear direction and guidance to the management team and staff to achieve organisational goals.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with mission-aligned entities and identify opportunities to leverage impact.
• Stay attuned to global trends, research and events and position Pharo Foundation as a relevant player in our mission areas in Africa.
• Lead the internal investment committee and ensure all programmes, investments and activities are fully aligned with the strategic priorities of the Foundation.

Ventures focus

• Oversee the design of Pharo Ventures’ operations, funding, and scaling of businesses across Africa.
• Evaluate and track the success of the existing ventures to ensure resource optimization, achieve bottom-line and IRR targets and maximise social impact.
• Collaborate with Pharo Ventures leaders to assess and minimize risks to the businesses in the operating environment.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including government entities, donors, partner organisations, and local communities.
• Represent the Foundation at relevant forums and events to promote its mission and secure necessary support.

Financial Management

• Collaborate with CFO and COO to develop and manage the Foundation's budget, ensuring financial sustainability and accountability.
• Identify and secure collaboration opportunities through partnerships aligned with the Foundation’s missions.

Visionary leadership

• Be a worldclass communicator and motivate all staff to achieve a common vision and embody the organisational values.
• Foster a positive and inclusive work environment where diversity is celebrated, and employees are motivated and empowered to achieve their full potential.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to the management team, promoting professional growth and development.

Organisational Governance

• Lead an efficient and effective organisational operation according to best practices, ethical guidelines, and fiduciary requirements.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as adherence to the Foundation's policies and procedures.
• Report to the Board of Directors on organisational performance and provide timely updates on key initiatives and challenges.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Collaborate with the Chief Research and Evaluations Officer to establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the impact and effectiveness of the Foundation's programs.
• Utilize data-driven insights to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications and requirements

• Minimum ten years of professional experience, with a proven track record of successfully driving organisational growth and impact in Africa.
• Strong relationship builder and communicator with experience in partnership development and the ability to represent the Foundation externally. Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., business administration, international development, economics) is highly desirable.
• Experience in managing multicultural teams and working in diverse environments.
• Strong understanding of development programmes in education, employment, and water-related issues in Africa.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, and local communities.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• An entrepreneurial-leaning and successful private sector experience is strongly preferred.
• A solid academic background and a minimum of a relevant professional master’s degree.
• Strong familiarity with Africa and its diverse needs and cultures, with an emphasis on East Africa.
• Strong leader and communicator with experience leading diverse work teams, developing an organisation-wide strategy for programme excellence.
• Demonstrates integrity, strives for excellence in her/his work, and has experience of leading others to new levels of effectiveness and programmatic impact.
• Passionate about the Foundation’s vision and mission with the ability to promote and communicate the philosophy, mission, and values of the Foundation to external and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to travel up to 50 percent of the time to provide on-site leadership.

Personal attributes

• Positive and outgoing personality with solid leadership, interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
• A visionary leader with ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve organisational objectives.
• Great attention to detail and a flexible approach to work. 
• Highly structured and keen on processes that drive organisational effectiveness.
• Excellent communicator and comfortable to work in a diverse team environment.
• Passionate about developing people.
• Demonstrates high ethical standards and is values driven.
• Ability to foster collaborative approaches to work and build partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to navigate through change and uncertainty.